The faith groups with the greatest participation in Boy Scouts of America — the Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — have indicated they will remain part of the fabric of scouting as the 103-year-old organization on Thursday ended denying membership to boys on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The reaction has been cautious and subdued from many religious groups, which charter about 70 percent scout troops, to the vote Thursday by 1,400 members of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to prohibit discrimination against youth based on their sexual orientation or preference.

A ban on openly gay adult scout leaders, however, remains in place.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Denver issued a statement saying it will continue with its more than 100-year relationship supporting the Boy Scouts of America in its schools and parishes.

"The most recent revision of the Membership Standards of the Boy Scouts states that 'no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.' The church agrees that no group should reduce a person to their sexual orientation or proclivity," the statement said. "However, the moral formation of youth must include a firm commitment to respecting and promoting an authentic vision of sexuality rooted in the Gospel itself."

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The Archdiocese of Denver stated it will continue to allow parish-chartered Scouting organizations, but would be " steadfast in articulating a Christian understanding of human dignity and sexuality."

The BSA also emphasized in a statement that the resolution "reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting."

Peter Morales, the Arvada man who serves as the president of the Boston-based Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, had a mixed reaction.

"I'm delighted the scouts have taken this step. It's a historic step. I would encourage the scouts to take one more step — to be fully inclusive and include gay scout leaders. The culture has clearly changed. But they need to take one more step."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, which sponsors almost half of the faith-based charters (almost 421,000 boys and young men), had already shifted its position in late April to align with the proposal that became scouting policy Thursday.

LDS leaders issued a statement late last month saying they had enjoyed a 100-year "strong, rewarding relationship" the Boy Scouts of America and were "satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort" to address one of the most complex issues facing society.

"We appreciate the positive things contained in this current proposal that will help build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of youth as we work together in the future," church leadership wrote April 25.

Baptist and evangelical groups, including Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, have backed the longtime bans and campaigned to stop the culture change.

The conservative Family Research Council and a coalition of self-described "pro-family" groups opposing open homosexuality in scouting have sent out "urgent requests for prayer and action" in mass emails last week asking people to express opposition.

"In order to placate their East and West Coast appendages, they are tearing out the heart of their Midwest and Southern support," Land said. "This decision will lead to a mass exodus of traditional, orthodox Christianity from the Boy Scouts."

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly had argued for keeping scouting "morally straight" rather than "morally neutral." He couldn't be reached for comment on the vote Thursday afternoon.

Not all kids who play baseball are uniformed with fancy script across their chests, traveling to $1,000 instructional camps and drilled how to properly hit the cut-off man. Some kids just play to play.